The Complete List of Mammals That Start With M

This list includes 42 Mammals that start with M, from “Madagascar flying fox” to “Muskrat”. It highlights widespread and regional species useful for classroom reference, wildlife writing, and casual identification.

Mammals that start with M are species in Class Mammalia whose common English names begin with the letter M. Many are familiar in folklore and culture, like the manatee sometimes called the “sea cow”.

Below you’ll find the table with Common name, Scientific name, Order, and Habitat.

Common name: The everyday English name helps you quickly recognize each species and match it to field guides or classroom lists.

Scientific name: The Latin binomial identifies the exact species and helps you find formal literature or taxonomic databases.

Order: The taxonomic order groups related species so you can compare behavior, ecology, and evolutionary relationships quickly.

Habitat: A concise label shows typical environments where each mammal lives, aiding field planning and ecological context.

Mammals that start with M

Descriptions

Meerkat

Small, social mongoose, 0.7–1.0 kg; lives in cooperative mobs, digs burrows; Least Concern but local threats from habitat change.

Mountain lion

Large solitary cat up to 70 kg, adaptable predator; wide range but fragmented populations; conservation varies regionally.

Moose

World’s largest deer, 300–700 kg, long legs and palmate antlers; sensitive to habitat loss and warming.

Muskox

Stocky, shaggy Arctic ruminant 200–400 kg; survives cold with herd defenses; recovered from hunting in many areas.

Mediterranean monk seal

Rare pinniped, solitary and cave-dwelling; endangered due to disturbance, fishing interactions, small populations.

Malayan pangolin

Scaly, nocturnal insectivore 4–12 kg; dug-up for ants and termites; critically threatened by illegal trade.

Malayan tapir

Large, distinctive black-and-white tapir up to 300 kg; solitary browser facing deforestation and hunting.

Malayan colugo

Arboreal gliding mammal with skin membrane; nocturnal, eats leaves; relies on intact forest canopy.

Marbled cat

Small, beautifully patterned wild cat, arboreal and elusive; vulnerable to deforestation and hunting.

Marsh rice rat

Semi-aquatic rodent around 100–200 g; swims well, feeds on vegetation and invertebrates; locally common.

Mountain beaver

Primitive, burrowing rodent ~1 kg; not related to true beavers; limited range but stable.

Mountain pygmy-possum

Tiny nocturnal marsupial ~45 g; hibernates in snow; endangered due to habitat loss and climate change.

Marsh deer

Tall, swamp-adapted deer up to 150 kg; fragmented populations threatened by wetland degradation.

Mountain nyala

Large spiral-horned antelope endemic to Ethiopian highlands; endangered with very small population.

Markhor

Impressive spiral-horned wild goat up to 110 kg; conservation efforts have improved some populations.

Marbled polecat

Small mustelid with striking coat, solitary and carnivorous; threatened by habitat loss and persecution.

Mountain reedbuck

Smaller antelope adapted to mountain grasslands; patchy distribution, vulnerable in places.

Marine otter

Small, solitary otter specialized for marine life; endangered due to fishing interactions and habitat loss.

Masked palm civet

Arboreal omnivorous civet with masked face; adaptable but hunted and affected by habitat change.

Masked shrew

Tiny insectivorous shrew 4–7 g; high metabolism and widespread, indicator of healthy ground habitats.

Mexican free-tailed bat

Fast-flying insectivore forming huge colonies; important pest control; some populations sensitive to disturbance.

Mexican long-nosed bat

Nectar-feeding bat, key pollinator of agave and cacti; endangered from habitat loss.

Malayan sun bear

Smallest bear, 25–65 kg, short snout and chest patch; vulnerable due to deforestation and poaching.

Madagascar ruffed lemur

Large, loud arboreal lemur; vital seed disperser; critically endangered from habitat loss.

Madagascar flying fox

Large fruit bat with wingspan over 1 m; important pollinator and seed disperser; threatened by hunting.

Mouflon

Wild sheep with distinctive horns; ancestor of domestic sheep in parts of Europe.

Mountain goat

Sure-footed, thick-furred goat up to 120 kg; well adapted to steep terrain; popular with hikers.

Mountain zebra

Striped zebra species adapted to rugged terrain; vulnerable due to habitat fragmentation.

Mountain hare

Hare that molts white in winter; adapted to cold, hunted in parts of range.

Maned wolf

Tall-legged, fox-like canid up to 23 kg; omnivorous and solitary; Near Threatened from habitat loss.

Margay

Small arboreal cat, excellent climber; nocturnal and solitary; vulnerable to deforestation.

Mountain cottontail

Medium-sized rabbit adapted to cooler highlands; common locally but affected by habitat change.

Muskrat

Semi-aquatic rodent 0.5–1.1 kg; builds lodges; important wetland engineer, sometimes invasive.

Marsh mongoose

Semi-aquatic mongoose feeding on aquatic prey; secretive and locally common in marshes.

Mountain coati

Small coati adapted to montane forests; diurnal forager often in small groups.

Maned rat

Spiny-coated rodent known as “maned rat”; unique defenses and solitary habits.

Minke whale

One of the smallest baleen whales; fast swimmer, feeds on small fish and krill; population trends vary regionally.

Marsh rice rat

Semi-aquatic rodent around 100–200 g; swims well, feeds on vegetation and invertebrates; locally common.

Mountain tapir

Smallest tapir, woolly coat, solitary browser; endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

Mountain reedbuck

Antelope of rocky highlands; shy and localized, vulnerable in parts of range.

Marine otter

Small, solitary otter specialized for marine life; endangered due to fishing interactions and habitat loss.

Marbled cat

Small, beautifully patterned wild cat, arboreal and elusive; vulnerable to deforestation and hunting.